Jagjit Singh's horse won when he was fighting for life

On September 24, even as ghazal maestro Jagjit Singh battled for his life in a Mumbai hospital, his favourite horse, Rajasthan Royal, scored a handsome victory at the Pune race course.

Rajasthan Royal was in top class over a mile drift, which many thought was beyond the  horse. Most believed that Royal was a sprinter, while few thought it would even get seven furlongs (1,400 metres). Even less takers fancied Rajasthan Royal over the mile drift.

Jagjit Singh was passionate about horses. He owned a few, and Rajasthan Royal was his favourite. He wanted this horse to win, but it never made the cut when he was at the races.

However, the horse proved his master right and put in a forceful gallop in the final stages of the September 24 race to shock Angelo and Company to score a determined victory in the Pelican Trophy for top class horses at the Pune race course.

Trainer Adhiraj Singh Jodha said, “Jagjit Singh always believed that Royal would certainly get a mile; there was no doubt in his mind. After he won in the last outing over seven furlongs, Jagjit Singh insisted that we should run him over the mile and we all agreed. Sadly, he was in the intensive care unit and could not watch his prophecy come true.”

Vivek Jain, chairman of Royal Western India Turf Club said, “The racing fraternity will certainly miss Jagjit and it is a loss which can never be filled. The last time when I met him, we planned a show in Mumbai during the racing season.”